Like COUNTESSCHAN I use it on occasion. It has really improved over the years. It's nice to have on hand when I'm short on time in the AM. It does keep me satisfied for about 4 hrs. I really don't like how high the carbs are. It has 25 carbs and that's pretty high for me. That's why I have it very sparingly.

One of the biggest problems with "meal replacements" (IMO) is they are a diet that you go onto for a while, then go off of. And if you haven't learned to *eat*, then you'll gain the weight back you lost with the meal replacement.

By learning to eat at a sustainable level, learning to cook with better ingredients and choose the right fats, you are giving yourself the tools to maintain your lost weight for the rest of your life, not just lose 20 pounds only to gain back 30 because you went back to eating the way you did before.

Any diet that wants you to use their food creates this same problem, you lose weight because someone else was planning the meals for you, then you gain it back if you haven't learned to plan your own.

SIMONEKP
Posts:
2,617
4/17/13 10:54 A

I find I'm hungry soon after when I drink my calorie so I prefer to eat something of equivalent calories but they are helpful in a pinch.

LUCKYNUMBER23- I actually consume a lot less calories drinking it twice a day then eating regular meals. I wouldn't really consider it "drinking your calories" because its only 200 something cals and it compensates for a meal. I would understand your comment better if we were talking about pop or juice but its slimfast.

IRISHFANUH87
Posts:
1,038
3/18/13 3:25 P

My mom used to keep some around and I loved the taste of it when I was younger. However, I don't think it's a sustainable way to lose weight. It may be ok to give you a jumpstart but most people say they gain the weight back. It's best to learn healthy eating habits and eat within your calorie range Spark provides.

I tried them and found them to be not very good tasting and I didn't find that they really helped me loose weight. I suppose they might be ok if I was on a road trip or something and needed a fast meal or snack but I would not use them on any kind of a regular basis.

I used slimfast a few years ago and did lose the weight pretty easily, but I gained it all back. I think the problem with plans like that is they don't teach you anything about nutrition or portion control. I've had far more success in the long term since I started using Sparkpeople's nutrition calculator and making my own meals.

CTG492
Posts:
14
3/18/13 11:54 A

I think whatever works for each is the way to go. I have a been a vegetarian my entire life, but junk food was my vice. 15 years ago started my road to healthy eating by actually starting Slim Fast as funny as that sounds. For me it was a stepping stone to realize what I was eating. I realized as I was chopping up the Slim Fast snack bars so I could have a piece on and off through out the day, that I was not really changing my hook on sugar or junk. I was just substituting cookies and such for something else. Not saying I don't fall off the Veggie cart anymore, I just am far more intune to what I consume. The Smoothies and Juice drinks one can make super fast, may be better for a person the slim fast.

LOVE the smoothie recipe! I might have to try that one some time. If I ever get tired of my fruit and veggie ones.

Personally, what I am trying to teach myself now (and wrote a blog about) is HOW and WHAT to eat. Slim fast won't do that. It keeps you in your calorie range, and does help you lose weight. It won't, unfortunately, help you make wise decisions later, when you are done with the shakes.

I have been there. Not with Slim Fast, but with other foods. There was a time when I came in my calorie range every day, I lost weight, I was making progress, but I wasn't really healthy. I have started having fruits and veggies, lots of WHOLE foods, and very little processed. I feel better than I have in a very long time. I don't think I ever really knew how to properly eat. I mean, I think I KNEW, but I hadn't really ever had that many balanced meals, even as a kid.

Now, I'm having fruits as a snack (or veggies) and definitely getting all my servings in every day. Plus, because I haven't had sugar in a while, I have noticed the cravings are going down. I know I will eat sugar again, which is why I don't deprive myself really. Right now, I am, just to kind of get things under control. To learn that a king size bag of m&m's isn't a realistic serving size. But a small fun size bag is okay. I had an unhealthy way to eat. And I am re-learning the right way. And making those choices myself really helps.

TURTLESDOVE
Posts:
1,067
3/18/13 10:14 A

I think they are good on occasions when I don't have anything prepared. It sure beats that last minute temptation to give in and go get a big mac value meal, so I keep a few in the fridge. Or if I'm out, I will put one in a lunch box with an ice pack to keep it cold. I love them when they are cold. I get the equate french vanilla ones at walmart. It's the generic to slim fast, and they are so delicious.

I used to do slimfast shakes all the time along with the bars. When I found out how processed they were and how much sugar (regardless that people lost weight) I stopped consuming them. Now if I taste one, i gag. they are so sweet.

Now i would rather make my own protein bars and my own juices or smoothies. So much healthier for me.

MISSRUTH
Posts:
4,128
3/17/13 10:43 A

Personally, I don't often use packaged meal-replacement shakes or drinks or bars; they don't teach me about good nutrition and how to put together real food, to make a filling and nutritious meal. Since I pretty much plan on eating actual food for the rest of my life, it makes sense to me to learn how to "eat right". And not rely on Slim Fast or Atkins or whatever.

I have occasionally used some protein bars though-- I'll put one in my purse along with an apple, if I'm thinking my errands and appointments in town might keep me longer than I plan. But if I have some nuts in the house, I'll throw some in a little baggie and take those instead of the bar.

Basically a nice smoothie recipe. Using a pasteurized egg white would help with any food poisoning issues (don't use raw egg whites) This recipe would need to be consumed immediately, couldn't be refrigerated for later use.

I don't follow the Slim Fast diet, but I do keep a few bottles on hand for days I have to get up really early and can't be bothered to make breakfast. I like the taste, and it keeps me full for about 4 hours. Its good on occasion, but I can't imagine using it as my sole nutrition source.

CHARMIAN2
Posts:
997
3/16/13 4:36 A

For breakfast and lunch I have a slim fast and whatever fruits or veges I want..so I am never hungry. Then I eat regular healthy dinner.

I am not going to mention healthy v non-healthy, but rather it doesn't actually teach you a healthy way of eating. You are far better off getting the nutrition you need from real food which provides a lot of positives - varying tastes/textures/heat - good fibre which helps with satiety and bowel health being just some of them. Then of course there is the sustainability - people who rely on this sort of thing often DO lose the weight, but then they regain when they get back to eating real food because they still haven't learned how to correct what got them overweight in the first place!

I just saw a question on the message boards about meal replacements and I would like to hear some opinions on slimfast. I use it, and I have heard people have had success losing weight with it, as far as nutrition-wise, I really don't have much knowledge on that. I just know that there is a significant amount of sugar in it, which I ignore since so many people lose weight with it.

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